Screening and molecular characterization of phytase producer from north Gujarat region

Abstract

Soil samples from the rhizosphere region of different agricultural fields, cattle dung sheds, dump sites of agricultural and dairy waste, etc. in the north Gujarat area were used for the screening of phytase-producing bacteria. Out of the 104 microbial colonies, around 42 colonies showed phytase production on Petri plates, as indicated by the zone of hydrolysis around the colonies. Among them, 13 isolates with hydrolysis efficiency more than 100% were screened for quantitative enzyme production in submerged fermentation. Two isolates, designated as which was further subjected to study the effect of physiological parameters including temperature, pH, incubation time, and inoculum percent. The effect of different physiological parameters on the production of enzymes suggests that each isolate has its own unique set of conditions for higher enzyme production. Isolate DSS was found to have higher enzyme production at 40°C with 5% inoculum and CDS at 55°C with 10% inoculum; both isolates gave higher enzyme production at pH 6 and 72 h of incubation time under submerged fermentation conditions. Based on the molecular identification and identity score, isolates DSS and CDS were identified as Bacillus tequliensis and Bacillus spp.